The mute swan is a symbol of beauty and elegance, thanks in no small part to the beloved fairy tale "The Ugly Duckling," about an awkward and unsightly duckling who upon growing up discovers he is actually a swan. The proverbial story is often used as a lesson in transformation and the relative nature of beauty. One glance at this swan, seen here holding a feather in a nature preserve in the Netherlands, and it"s easy to see how the idiom "graceful as a swan" came about.
Mute swan
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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Labor Day parade in 1915 Chicago
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Star Wars Day
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Rainbow Mountain
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A storied trail marks a century
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Shark Awareness Day
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Endangered Species Act
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A giant relic in Java
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A rock in a wild place
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World Reef Awareness Day
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GOAL!
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Happy St. Patricks Day!
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Bobbio, Italy
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A crane for good luck in today’s big game
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World Lake Day in the Faroe Islands
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Plum blossoms in China
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National Dolphin Day
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Celebrating Labor Day
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A timeless view of the night sky
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Ludwig’s palace
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Mona Vale Rockpool, Sydney, Australia
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Turning darkness into light
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World Octopus Day
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Ancient storage in the Grand Canyon
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World Elephant Day
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Sounds of Bach come to Bath
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Yellow-eyed penguins, Moeraki, New Zealand
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Badlands National Park turns 44
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European Day of Parks
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National Take the Stairs Day
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Feature Attraction: 85 years at the drive-in
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

